Gender Neutral Birth Certificates Coming to New Jersey February

A new law was passed, which expands transgender rights in New Jersey. With this brings a new birth certificate as of February 1st. This new law will bring with it a new birth certificate. The birth certificate will include a third gender option: male, female, and gender neutral. The Babs Siperstein Bill was signed into law July 2018 by Governor Phil Murphy.

Parents can now choose gender-neutral or non-binary on the birth certificate. This law also allows adults to change their gender on their birth certificate without having to show proof of a gender reassignment surgery. This law also effects death certificates as well, which can be changed.

This new law is named after Babs Siperstein of Edison, who was the first elected transgender member of the Democratic National Committee back in 2012, according to News 12 New Jersey.

New Jersey is not the first state to adopt this new birth certificate. California, Oregon, and Washington have adopted similar laws. New York City also made headlines recently for instating gender neutral birth certificates.

Ashley Chiappano, a representative for the group Garden State Equality, told News 12 New Jersey, "Just because your sex assigned at birth is one thing, it does not necessarily mean that it is something that's going to be consistent with your gender identity throughout your life."

Chiappano went on to explain the difference between sex and gender, stating that sex is assigned by a doctor and is more like a label, while gender is how you feel inside. She explained, "It's how you express yourself through your clothing, your behavior, and your personal appearance."